OTTAWA — The New Democrats are urging the Liberal government to decriminalize pot before they legalize it.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned on a promise to legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana, and his government plans to get started next spring. Meanwhile, the existing criminal law remains on the books and police are expected to enforce it.

The NDP is introducing an opposition day motion on Monday calling on the House of Commons to recognize there is a contradiction in giving people criminal records for something the government has said should not be a crime. The motion also calls on the government to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana for personal use immediately.

Adrian Wyld / Canadian PressNDP MP Murray Rankin

“Arresting people and giving them criminal records for possession of small quantities just doesn’t seem fair, in light of their commitment, apparently, to legalize marijuana,”